“Modelling has built my confidence far beyond the catwalk and made me feel that there is a lot that I can accomplish with commitment and hard work.” – Miss Nation Uganda 2019/20
What made you want to move to Dubai and how long have you lived here?
I moved to Dubai with my parents in 2012 and fell in love with the city, so I never left.
What’s your job now?
Currently I work for the UK Visas and Immigration in Dubai, I am also a part-time commercial model and social media influencer.
Tell us how you got involved with modelling?
I got into modeling about 4 years ago when a friend asked me to model for her photography class project but it really picked up in 2019 when I joined an agency called FSSDXB. But the seeds were sown much earlier because my mother was a successful fashion stylist. She has been an inspiration, instilling me with the drive and ambition to go for it and a fascination for fashion.
What’s it like being a model?
Being a model and maintaining a model’s appearance requires considerable effort. You have to maintain a healthy body weight, keep you hair and nails and well styled, and your dental work and skin in tip top condition. But I find it quite an honour to be considered a model. It has built my confidence far beyond the catwalk and made me feel that there is a lot that I can accomplish with commitment and hard work. Models also have a responsibility to their audience and followers especially when it comes to showcasing the latest trends and associating their name with quality products and events.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to get involved in the modelling industry?
The best way to know if you have what it takes is to have a photographer take your polaroids (these are colored snapshots) in your most natural state i.e, no makeup, natural hair, and fitted clothes like shorts and fitted tee or swimsuit. Apply to different agencies and ensure to include your measurements, height, hips, bust, waist, hair and eye color. Believe in yourself, you know you have what it takes and don’t give up if you don’t get a yes from the beginning. This is normal, believe me!
What are you most proud of?
Having my hard work finally recognized, for example I was given the honor of being a judge at the first Miss Teen Globe in my home country – Uganda.
Women empowerment – what are your thoughts on it?
Women’s empowerment has more recently taken center stage and I am happy that the world has finally begun to recognize the importance of gender equality and that it is not just a ‘women’s issue’ it’s an issue for all humanity. I believe that all women deserve to live freely, and have equal rights to men. The positive impact of women’s empowerment on everything from economies to well-being is evidenced by UN data.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Do not be in a rush to grow up, take life easy and everything is going to turn out just fine.